The effect of copper addition on strontium-containing silicate-based sol-gel bioactive glass for tissue regeneration

Previous studies on bioactive glasses (BGs) have reported the therapeutic potential of either strontium (Sr2+) or copper (Cu2+) ions as dopants. This study incorporates both dopants into a novel BG composition for soft tissue attachment. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns showed the presence of multiple crystalline phases, including copper oxide (CuO). Thermal analysis revealed the glass transition temperatures (Tg) ranged from 543 to 561 degrees C and decreased as Cu2+ concentrations increased. Raman spectroscopy showed the glass structure contained predominantly Q2 and Q3 species, while particle size and surface area were between 1.1-2.5 mu m and 8-15 m2/g, respectively. No Cu2+ ions were released from the glass structure after 1000 h of incubation in deionized (DI) water. Agar diffusion testing against S. aureus found that each glass possessed antibacterial properties, with 4 mol % containing Cu-BG presenting the most significant inhibition zones at 3.1 +/- 0.1 mm over the 7-day incubation time.